No there is no new SQL Server *beta* out
In today's WinInfo Daily Update, Paul Thurrott writes:
Microsoft Issues Second SQL Server 2005 Public Beta
On Friday, Microsoft issued its second Community Technology Preview (CTP) release of Microsoft SQL Server 2005 and gave public testers a new beta release--SQL Server 2005 Express Manager, a new, free database-management tool. The SQL Server 2005 CTP is available to all Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) and Microsoft BetaPlace subscribers, the company says.
Not quite. The December Community Technical Preview is not considered a beta. It's not tested as strongly as a beta before it goes out to the public. The XM release also isn't called a beta either. Finally, these bits are available to the public from the SQL Express Web site at http://msdn.microsoft.com/express/sql/.
Paul does somewhat clarify this later in the item, but if you don't read it all, you might get the wrong impression.